Essay Beowulf Translations In Time - 2840 Words

Beowulf Translations In Time Beowulf. The oldest and, arguably, the greatest epic in English literature’s vast history. Beowulf is an epic poem, originally written in Old English, that details the heroic exploits of the warrior, Beowulf, throughout his life. It represents the heroic ideal and the role of fate’s importance to the Old English people, while also addressing politics, war, old-age, kinsmanship, and fantasy. The depth of the poem, in both its poetry and narration, is incredible, and in the original Old English the integration and weaving of meaning throughout the text is virtually unparalleled. Though Beowulf is an obvious masterpiece of English literature, its true importance in history is often understated†¦show more content†¦Wiht unhaelo, grim ond graedig, gearo sona waes, reoc ond repe, ond on raeste genam pritig pegna; panon eft gewat hude hremig to ham faran, mid paere waelfylle wica neosan. (115-125) This passage, Grendel’s approach and attack on the Dane’s hall, was chosen because it is representative of the poetic and narrative structures that are operating throughout the poem; the recurring diction, narrative movement, internal reference and contrast, and envelope structure that are present in this short passage are echoed in all of Beowulf. Also, this passage is an important and entertaining portion of the story, providing a good reference point for the analysis of the translations. The translations I have selected are varied; from literal word- by-word translations, to more â€Å"narrative† modern verse translations, to transcriptions of the original text with glossings, and even one of my own translations. The chosen translations range fairly evenly from the years 1892 to 2001, and are all from academic sources (except for, possibly, the two Penquin translations, which I have included for added depth in analysis, giving translations that are directed at a more broad audience). This varied range of translations over time provides a good foundation to examine the content of this very important passage in translation. By examining Grendel’s approach to the hall, theShow MoreRelated Epic of Beowulf Essay - Foreign and English Translations and Versions of Beowulf1541 Words   |  7 PagesForeign and English Translations and Versions of Beowulf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From 1805 until the present there have been introduced an abundance of paraphrases, translations, adaptations, summaries, versions and illustrations of Beowulf in modern English and in foreign languages due mostly to two reasons: the desire to make the poem accessible, and the desire to read the exotic (Osborn 341). It is the purpose of this essay to present a brief history of this development of the popularity of the poem andRead MoreEssay about Comparison of Seven Beowulf Translations1133 Words   |  5 PagesComparison of Seven Beowulf   Translations    There is not unanimity among Beowulf translators concerning all parts of the text, but there is little divergence from a single, uniform translation of the poem. Herein are discussed some passages which translators might show disagreement about because of the lack of clarity or missing fragments of text or abundance of synonyms or ambiguous referents.    After the Danish coast-guard meets and talks to Beowulf, the guard then begins his nextRead MoreLanguage in Beowulf Essay767 Words   |  4 Pagestimeles epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf was written in Old English by an unknown author between the centuries of 800 AD and 1000 AD. Year after year, a new translation is made by an author. Each translation is completely different, yet still the same poem. It is tedious for authors to make their translation literal to the original epic, while simultaneously making it understandable, modern, and readable. Many have tried to accomplish this, but personally I find that Seamus Heaney’s translation of the epic accomplishesRead MoreEssay about Analysis of 2 Translations of Beowulf667 Words   |  3 PagesDescription Comparative Analysis Beowulf is a great piece of Anglo-Saxon literature that can be, and has been, translated in multiple ways. Of the many outstanding translations, two of which are by Burton Raffel and Seamus Heaney, different ways of writing are portrayed. Grendel’s description is written quite differently in both translations. Heaney’s translation is more similar to the Anglo-Saxon style of writing than Raffel’s translation. In Heaney’s translation, he uses a kenning to describe theRead MoreEssay On Translation Of The Movie Beowulf953 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf is the oldest surviving epic poem in Old English literature. It is a tale as old as time, passed down through stories around the campfire, told through the ancient lips of our ancestors. There were many translations recorded as soon as writing was developed, but one was more accurate and popular than the rest. In the year 2007, the movie Beowulf was produced, and it combined many translations of the poem. There were major similarities and differences between the most accurate translationRead MoreBeowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pages The epic poem Beowulf, is a work of fiction and was composed sometime between the middle of the seventh and the end of the tenth century of the first millennium, in the language today called Anglo- Saxon or Old English. This story is a heroic narrative, more than three thousand lines long, concerning the deeds of the Scandinavian prince, also called Beowulf, and it stands as one of the foundation works of poetry in English. Beowulf is obviously a creation of the poet, through partial comparisonsRead MoreEssay on Anglo-Saxon History and Beowulf1586 Words   |  7 PagesAnglo-Saxon History and Beowulf By definition the word â€Å"hero† might be interpreted in one of four ways. First off in mythology and legend, a hero is often of divine ancestry. He is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. Secondly, a hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. Thirdly, a hero can also be described as a person noted for specialRead MoreBeowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1740 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf The original poem, Beowulf, goes back to the Anglo-Saxon period in c. 650 and c.1100. Authors translated Beowulf many times in the Anglo-Saxon period to present day. It displays how a hero should be in the real world. He helps the people in the village and slays monsters. Everyone in the village looks up to him as he acts as if he were a role model. Beowulf, the protagonist in the translated Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, is a hero of his village, stands for bravery, strong will, and noblenessRead MoreSummery and Response of Webster’s Article on Archeology in Beowulf642 Words   |  3 PagesIn Webster’s article, she talks about the different things that make Beowulf the poem what it is today. In her article she talks about different things like swords, shields, halls, and cultures. She takes these subjects and talks about where they originated and why they are in the poem. She takes the poem and breaks it down into the different subjects, and shows the reader how they add to the texture of the poem. Webster ends her article by stating that the poem would not be what it was today withoutRead More Epic of Beowulf Essay - Alliteration in Beowulf1297 Words   |  6 PagesAlliteration in Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The diction of the Old English poem Beowulf is distinguished primarily by its heavy use of   allliteration, or the repetition of the initial sounds of words.    In the original manuscript version of the poem, alliteration is employed in almost every line (or two half-lines); in modern translations of the poem this is not so. Beowulf uses alliteration [my italics] and accent to achieve the poetic effect which Modern English poetry achieves